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Telehandlers and Aerials Draw Attention at ConExpo

A show as prominent as ConExpo features more new products than you can count, or even possibly see, in a few days. Several manufacturers rolled out new or improved products during the recently concluded ConExpo 2011, held from March 22 -26 in Las Vegas. Here are some of the noteworthy aerial work platforms and telehandlers introduced at the show.

Snorkel

Snorkel North America Inc., Elwood, Kan., displayed a number of new models in its ConExpo booth, including a new large rough-terrain scissor lift, two new boom lifts, a mast lift, and expansion of its Pop-Up range of low-level-access products.

One of the most visually impressive units on the stand was the prototype of the new 1,250-pound capacity S6090RT rough-terrain scissors lift. The model will finish testing and go into production by the third quarter of this year, “but we’ll take orders now,” says David Smith, president of Snorkel North America. Other models with platform heights of 32 feet, 43 feet, and 52 feet will round out the family. Though testing is still under way, Snorkel expects the S6090RT to provide a maximum platform height of 60 feet and be drivable with the platform elevated at 43 feet. The platform measures 6 feet wide by 14 feet long, with 59-inch roll-out decks at each end providing a total platform length of nearly 24 feet when extended. A 44-horsepower diesel engine powers the unit, which features four-wheel hydrostatic drive and 14 inches of ground clearance. “It’ll provide a great work station for two to three people with tools,” says Smith.

Snorkel also displayed its brand new A62JRT rough-terrain articulating boom lift, which will go into production by the third quarter of the year. It is expected to deliver 62 feet of platform height, 35’ 1” of horizontal reach, 30 feet of up-and-over clearance, and an unrestricted lifting capacity of 500 pounds. Its 6’2”, 136° jib helps position the platform easily. The unit has an overall working width of 96 inches and “significantly less tailswing than previous models,” says David Smith. The unit will be drivable at its full 62-foot extended height. The A62JT is the first articulated boom lift built on Snorkel’s new common Polaris chassis, which uses many common parts between several models.

Standing beside the A62JRT in Snorkel’s booth was the brand new T66JRT rough-terrain telescopic boom lift, which will go into production by the fourth quarter of the year. Also built on the Polaris chassis, the T66JRT provides platform heights to 66 feet and drives fully elevated. It provides up to 58’ 1” of horizontal reach, and an unrestricted capacity of 500 pounds on its 39-inch by 96-inch platform. Its 6-foot jib helps position the platform easily in the best working position for each job. It measures just 96 inches wide and, like the A62JRT, has significantly less tailswing than previous models.

MEC

MEC Aerial Work Platforms, Kerman, Calif., showed off its new 2659RT scissor lift, a crossover unit combining rough-terrain capability with on-slab size and features. “It’s a competent slab machine that can go anywhere,” says Gary Crook, MEC director of new product development. “It’ll do 80% of the jobs a full RT scissor will do, so the 2659RT can be rented either as an RT or a slab scissor,” he says. The 2659RT offers 26-foot maximum platform height and is drivable with the platform at 20 feet. It measures 59 inches wide, has a 5-foot inside turning radius, offers 4-wheel drive with 36-volt DC power, and 1,000-pound maximum lift capacity. The platform measures 91 inches long, or 133½ inches with the roll-out deck extended. Along with the 2659RT, MEC introduced a side-mounted material rack that holds 250-pounds of drywall, plywood, or other material. “Customers asked for it, so we as the OEM designed and tested it,” says Crook.

Teupen

A big surprise at this year’s event was the Teupen LEO 50 GTX. Although this product is not new to Teupen, the company used ConExpo to officially introduce it to the North American market. This massive track down aerial work platform offers 162’6” of maximum working height with nearly 50 feet of horizontal outreach, providing an astounding 87’7” of up-and-over clearance. The X signifies increased capacity, which in this case a total of 880 pounds. Although this unit offers unparalleled reach capabilities when in its working configuration service load is a mere 83.5 pounds per square foot. Primary power comes from the Kubota D2203 diesel engine, or if clean applications are mandated, the onboard 440 VAC power system allows access to any restricted area. Another impressive attribute of the Leo 50 is the fact that in its stowed configuration it is a mere 5’3” in width and 66 inches in height, which allows it to pass through any standard double wide commercial door. The unit at ConExpo was headed to New York City where it has been sold to a window cleaning company.

Also new is the Leo 18 GT which offers nearly 58 feet of maximum working height and 25 feet of horizontal outreach. Although not a new size, this unit has been redesigned. In lieu of the previous full pressure hydraulic system, the Leo 18 GT now incorporates state-of-the-art electric over hydraulic controls. Power comes from either the standard Kubota Z482 diesel engine or an optional 115 VAC drive system.

Manitex

One of the key new products displayed on the stand of Manitex International, Georgetown, Texas, was the brand new SC130, a truck-mounted sign crane offering 130-foot platform height and 4,000-pound capacity. The unit has an overall length 36’ 11¾” for road travel, and a gross vehicle weight of just less than 44,000 pounds with payload. Its four-section boom measures 34’ 3¼” retracted, and 121’ 3¼” fully extended. The 36-inch by 48-inch work basket is permanently mounted and rotates for easy positioning. Radio-remote controls in the basket are standard.

JCB

JCB Inc., Savannah, Ga., included the all-new 512-56 Loadall 12,000-pound-capacity telescopic handler in its display. The unit is the largest telehandler JCB has ever produced. “The 512-56 caps off our line of five high-boom, lift-and-place Loadalls with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 pounds,” saidJohn Patterson, Deputy Chairman of JCB. The unit will lift 5,000 pounds to its 56-foot maximum height, and can lift 3,500 pounds at 42 feet of outreach. It features a 114-horsepower EPA- and CARB-compliant Tier 3 Dieselmax engine. An open cab is standard, but the frame is prepped for easy installation of full enclosures. All standard checks and servicing can be done easily from the ground, says Jim Blower, senior product marketing manager. Blower also notes that the 512-56 offers three modes of rear-axle stabilization: when the machine is stopped, the rear cylinders lock out for stability; when it’s moving three miles per hour or less they cushion; and when it’s traveling more than three miles per hour, the cylinders open to let the axles pivot.

Genie

Genie, a Terex Brand, displayed the GS-4069 RT, largest model in Genie’s new GS Series of 69-inch-wide rough-terrain scissor lifts. The 69-inch-wide GS Series RT scissors offer more capacity and performance than their predecessors, says Genie. The GS-4069 RT is the world’s first 40-ft full-drive-height rough-terrain scissor lift in its class, according to Jeff Weido, senior project manager. All of the models in the series offer 13% more platform space than their predecessors. The 29-foot GS-2669 RT has a capacity of 1,500 pounds, the 33-foot GS-3369 RT offers 1,000-pound capacity, and the 40-foot GS-4069 RT has 800-pound lifting capacity.

JLG

The new products that JLG Industries, Inc., McConnellsburg, Pa., displayed ranged from a small 6-foot individual lift pod to the industry’s first 150-foot straight-boom lift. Here are some of the highlights.

JLG says its new 1500SJ telescopic boom lift is the largest self-propelled straight-boom lift available. The unit offers a 150-foot maximum working height, 80-foot maximum outreach, and the ability to reach up 120 feet with 25 feet of outreach from its telescoping jib. Its maximum capacity is 1,000 pounds, with 500-pound capacity at the outer edges of the work envelope. The work platform measures 3 feet by 8 feet. Although the largest straight-boom lift on the market, it needs only a weight permit for transportation says Jeff Ford, JLG’s global product director for AWPs.

On the other end of the JLG spectrum is the 6-foot LiftPod, a portable lift designed for one person to transport, assemble, and use easily alone. The pod weighs just 140 pounds and disassembles into a wheeled base, mast, and basket that can be transported in a van and assembled in seconds. Its 30-inch width and 6-foot height let it roll through a single doorway. The 330-pound maximum capacity will handle one worker and tools. The platform can be raised or lowered using an 18V cordless drill.

The T26E Toucan vertical mast lift with jib is a new model that vastly upgrades its predecessor, the E26MJ. JLG AWP global product manager Jeff Ford says the improvements include a 900-pound drop in weight (from 7,700 pounds to 6,800 pounds), reduction from about 50 hoses to just six, a switch from hydraulic travel drive to direct electric, and a change to batteries that are both smaller and give more work cycles per charge. The T26E offers 500-pound platform capacity and 26-foot maximum platform height while measuring just 39 inches wide.

JLG’s display also featured the X550AJ track-mounted specialty articulating boom lift, one of three slim, lightweight models that Italian manufacturer Hinowa is manufacturing for JLG. These units are just 31 inches wide in order to fit through doors, but use X-shaped outriggers for stability during operation. They offer maximum platform heights from 39 feet to 70 feet and have a 440-pound platform capacity. Buyers have the option of diesel, gas, or lithium-ion-battery power, and the diesel and gas models include an electric motor to enable working inside without running an internal-combustion engine.

A last highlight of the JLG display was a new Firestone DuraForce MH tire that’s expected to increase telehandler tire life by 300 percent, according to Brian Boeckman, JLG global product director for telehandlers. “Tires are one of the highest operating costs for a telehandler, so this will significantly reduce cost of ownership,” says Boeckman. JLG collaborated with Bridgestone Americas Off Road to develop the tires, which will now come standard on JLG, Lull, and SkyTrak telehandlers. The tire’s uni-directional tread allows one tire to mount in any wheel position, so dealers don’t have to stock right and left side tires. In addition, it features a low-profile sidewall that’s thicker and flatter than on previous tires, so it sits in line with the rim, reducing the likelihood of scraping in close-quarter work.